Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing and Sales - Maker's 46 Milehttp://www.keeneland.com/news-keywords/makers-46-mile
enBarn Notes -- Saturday, April 12http://www.keeneland.com/racing/barn-notes-saturday-april-12
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>WISE DAN DOING WELL MORNING AFTER MAKER’S 46 MILE TRIUMPH</strong></p>
<p>Trainer Charlie LoPresti was one happy camper Saturday morning, the day after Morton Fink’s reigning two-time Horse of the Year <strong>Wise</strong> <strong>Dan</strong> made a triumphant return to the races with a victory in the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) on Friday.</p>
<p>“I am glad that is over,” LoPresti said of the much anticipated debut. “I had him maybe 80 percent and would have liked to have had a couple more breezes. I had to put some wind in him and that’s why I breezed him the other day (a :35 three-eighths move; :22.80 through the stretch).”</p>
<p>Wise Dan’s three-quarter length victory over Kaigun represented his Keeneland record sixth graded stakes score, ninth Grade 1 win overall and 16<sup>th</sup> graded stakes victory.</p>
<p>“He’s doing fine this morning and he ate up everything last night,” LoPresti said. “He got a little tired at the 16<sup>th</sup> pole and I think that breeze is what got him home.”</p>
<p>Tentatively on the schedule next for Wise Dan is the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3. He won the race last year.</p>
<p>“That is not set in stone yet,” LoPresti said. “I just wanted to get through this first.”</p>
<p>The Woodford Reserve is on the radar for Kaigun.</p>
<p>“He is doing great this morning and I am very proud of him,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He has turned into a good horse.”</p>
<p>The runner-up effort marked Kaigun’s best stakes result in his 10-race career and it has Casse looking forward to the Derby Day race.</p>
<p>“The Woodford is the plan,” Casse said. “That’s the reason we ran here, to see if he belongs (with this company). If not, we would have gone in another direction.”</p>
<p>Third-place finisher <strong>Lochte</strong> is scheduled to return to his South Florida base on Monday with Sabrina Simon and Wayne Barnett looking over the Marcus Vitali trainee until he leaves.</p>
<p>“I was thrilled with his race, really happy,” Vitali said before starting his drive back to Miami. “We tried to beat the beast, but Wise Dan is a tough act to follow.”</p>
<p>Vitali said it was too soon to cement plans for a next start for Lochte.</p>
<p>“I have two or three spots in mind,” Vitali said with options including the Woodford Reserve and/or the $400,000 Dixie Handicap (G2) at Pimlico on May 17.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>FINK SCORES GOLDEN WIN WITH WISE DAN</strong></p>
<p>The victory by reigning two-time Horse of the Year <strong>Wise Dan</strong> in Friday’s $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) marked the gelding’s second consecutive win in the Spring Meet’s premier turf race and gave his owner, Morton Fink, his eighth graded stakes victory at Keeneland.</p>
<p>Fink of Northbrook, Ill., received a gold tray as part of Keeneland’s signature graded stakes trophy program. Only 19 owners in Keeneland history have achieved such an accomplishment. Ken and Sarah Ramsey reached the milestone on closing day of the 2013 Spring Meet.</p>
<p>Wise Dan and his older half-brother <strong>Successful Dan</strong> are responsible for Fink’s position. Wise Dan has won a Keeneland-record six graded stakes: 2010 Phoenix (G3), 2011 Fayette (G2), 2012 Ben Ali (G3), 2012 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and 2013-2014 Maker’s 46 Mile. Successful Dan won the<strong> </strong>2010 Fayette and 2013 Ben Ali. Charlie LoPresti trains both horses.</p>
<p>Keeneland’s gold tray is handcrafted in partnership with premier American jeweler and silversmith Tiffany &amp; Co.<br />
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>NOTES ON TODAY’S TOYOTA BLUE GRASS</strong></p>
<p>A field of 14 horses will go postward today in the 90<sup>th</sup> running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1). The Toyota Blue Grass is the most famous race at Keeneland, which first ran the stakes on April 29, 1937, closing day of its inaugural Spring Meet.</p>
<p>For the second consecutive year, the field for this year’s Toyota Blue Grass is a maximum 14 starters. Fourteen starters also competed in the 1954 and 1974 runnings.</p>
<p>Today’s program is the third consecutive 12-race Toyota Blue Grass card in Keeneland history. In 2012, Keeneland drew a track-record 40,617 fans to the track for the card.</p>
<p>Here is additional information to aid in your coverage:</p>
<p><u><strong>Kentucky Derby points</strong></u><br />
The winner of the Toyota Blue Grass earns 100 points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a points-based system with a series of key races offering escalating points during the course of the Derby year to determine which horses will compete in the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs.</p>
<p>The second-place finisher in the Toyota Blue Grass earns 40 points, followed by 20 points to the third-place finisher and 10 points to the fourth-place finisher.</p>
<p><u><strong>Information on 2014 Toyota Blue Grass participants</strong></u></p>
<p>Biographical information on the connections of each entrant in this year’s race, as well as past performances, charts dating back to the first running of the race at Keeneland in 1937 and historical statistics on the race are available at <a href="http://www.keeneland.com/bluegrass">Keeneland.com/bluegrass</a>.</p>
<p><u><strong>History</strong></u><br />
The Blue Grass was named for the famous Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky and held in 1911-14 and 1919-26 at the old Kentucky Association track near downtown Lexington. Second-place finishers <strong>Meridian </strong>(1911), <strong>Donerail</strong> (1913) and <strong>Behave Yourself </strong>(1921) went on to win the Kentucky Derby. The 1926 winner, <strong>Bubbling Over</strong>, became the first horse to win the Blue Grass and the Kentucky Derby.</p>
<p>With the closure of the Kentucky Association track, a group of prominent area Thoroughbred breeders went to work to return racing to Lexington. In 1935, they founded the Keeneland Association, purchased land from horseman J.O. “Jack” Keene and set out to open a model racetrack. Keeneland opened on Oct. 15, 1936, for nine days of racing. In April 1937, Keeneland held its inaugural Spring Meet of 11 days and ran the Blue Grass for the first time.</p>
<p>The winner of the first Blue Grass at Keeneland was Maxwell Howard’s <strong>Fencing</strong>, who won by three-quarters of a length over Col. E.R. Bradley’s favored due of Billionaire and Brooklyn. Nine days later at Churchill Downs, Fencing and Billionaire raced back in the Kentucky Derby, inaugurating a pattern that future Derby hopefuls would follow.</p>
<p><u><strong>Blue Grass - Kentucky Derby Connection</strong></u><br />
A total of nine winners of the Blue Grass at Keeneland have won the Kentucky Derby. Another 10 horses who ran in the race have won the Run for the Roses.</p>
<p><u><strong>Toyota Sponsorship</strong></u><br />
In 1996, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (located in Georgetown), five area Toyota dealerships and Toyota Motor Sales in Cincinnati teamed to sponsor the Blue Grass, marking Toyota’s first sponsorship of a horse race.</p>
<p><u><strong>Post Positions</strong></u><br />
Here are the post positions and the number of winners each post position has produced since 1937 (the race was run in two divisions in 1951):</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Post</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>No. of Winners</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>12</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>14</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>11</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>12</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1 (Goyamo, 1954)</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>14</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p> </p>
<p><strong><u>Horses</u><br />
Harlan’s Holiday</strong>, sire of <strong>Harry’s Holiday</strong>, won the 2002 Toyota Blue Grass.</p>
<p><strong><u>Owners</u><br />
Michael Tabor</strong> and <strong>Susan Magnier</strong>, who own Pablo Del Monte with <strong>Derrick Smith</strong> and Wesley Ward, joined Robert and Beverly Lewis in the ownership of 2000 winner High Yield. Tabor and Smith won the race in 2005 with Bandini. Tabor, Magnier and Smith also own Gala Award.</p>
<p><strong><u>Jockeys</u><br />
Alan Garcia</strong> (Coltimus Prime) and <strong>Julien Leparoux</strong> (Vinceremos) are bidding for their second win in the race. Garcia won aboard Stately Victor in 2010. Leparoux won last year on Java’s War.</p>
<p>Riding in the Toyota Blue Grass for the first time are <strong>Stewart Elliott</strong> (Coastline), <strong>Victor Espinoza</strong> (Pablo Del Monte), <strong>Brian Hernandez Jr.</strong> (Big Bazinga), <strong>Julian Pimentel </strong>(Extrasexyhippzster) and <strong>Emma-Jayne Wilson</strong> (Asserting Bear).</p>
<p>For the first time, two women will ride in the race:<strong> Emma-Jayne Wilson</strong> (Asserting Bear) and <strong>Rosie Napravnik</strong> (Harry’s Holiday). Napravnik was aboard eighth-place finisher Willcox Inn in 2011 and fifth-place finisher Fear the Kitten in 2013. Tammy Fox rode fourth-place finisher Big Courage in 1991. Julie Krone rode runner-up Suave Prospect in 1995.</p>
<p>
<strong><u>Trainers</u><br />
Todd Pletcher </strong>(Gala Award, Vinceremos and also-eligible Divine Oath)<strong> </strong>is<strong> </strong>bidding for a third win in the race. Pletcher won with Bandini (2005) and Monba (2008). Prior to 2014, he has had 18 starters in the race. Last year, he finished second with eventual Belmont (G1) winner Palace Malice.</p>
<p>Other trainers with a previous win in the race are <strong>Mike Maker </strong>(Harry’s Holiday), who won the race in 2010 with Stately Victor, and <strong>Dale Romans</strong> (Medal Count), who won the race in 2012 with Dullahan.</p>
<p>Trainers with horses in the race for the first time are <strong>Tom Bush</strong> (So Lonesome), <strong>Mario Morales</strong> (Casiguapo), <strong>Justin Nixon</strong> (Coltimus Prime), <strong>Michael Trombetta</strong> (Extrasexyhippzster) and <strong>Katerina Vassilieva</strong> (Big Bazinga).</p>
<p><strong>Katerina Vassilieva </strong>(Big Bazinga)<strong> </strong>is bidding to become the first female trainer to win the race. Other female trainers with starters in the race are Alexis Barba (Make Music for Me, 6<sup>th</sup> in 2010), Jennifer Pedersen (Mr Sword, 7<sup>th</sup> in 2005), Jamie Sanders (Teuflesberg, 4<sup>th</sup> in 2007) and Josie Carroll (Tesseron, 11<sup>th</sup> in 2013).</p>
<p><u><strong>Keeneland Sales Grads</strong></u><br />
Graduates of Keeneland sales are Big Bazinga, Coastline, Divine Oath (also-eligible), Gala Award, Harry’s Holiday, Medal Count and Vinceremos.</p>
<p>Big Bazinga was a $32,000 RNA at the 2012 January Horses of All Ages Sale. He was a $25,000 purchase at the 2012 September Yearling Sale.</p>
<p>Also sold at the 2012 September Sale were Coastline ($190,000), Divine Oath ($200,000), Gala Award ($1.55 million), Harry’s Holiday ($50,000), Medal Count ($360,000) and Vinceremos ($140,000). Vinceremos also sold for $340,000 at the 2013 Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.</p>
<p><u><strong>Odds</strong></u><br />
The <strong>shortest-priced favorite</strong> to win the race was Spectacular Bid (1979), who went off at .05-1 (1-20). He paid $2.10.</p>
<p>The <strong>longest shot</strong> to win the race was Stately Victor (2010), who went off at 40.10-1 in 2010. He paid $82.20.</p>
<p>The last time the <strong>post-time favorite won </strong>the Blue Grass was Peace Rules in 2003 at odds of 3-5.</p>
<p><u><strong>Margin of Victory</strong></u><br />
The <strong>largest margin of victory</strong> was turned in by Arts and Letters, who won the 1969 race by 15 lengths. He was followed by Alydar (13-length winner in 1978) and Sinister Minister (12¾-length winner in 2006).</p>
<p><u><strong>Times</strong></u><br />
This is the eighth year that the Toyota Blue Grass has been run on Keeneland’s Polytrack main track. (Polytrack debuted during the 2006 Fall Meet.) The <strong>Polytrack record for 1 1/8 miles</strong>, the distance of the Toyota Blue Grass, is 1:46.77, set by Carriage Trail in the 2008 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1). The fastest Toyota Blue Grass on Polytrack is the 1:47.84 by Dullahan in 2012. The <strong>stakes record is 1:47 1/5</strong>, set by Skip Away in 1996.</p>
<p><u><strong>Attendance</strong></u><br />
Keeneland drew an all-time record 40,617 fans for the 2012 Toyota Blue Grass Day. Last year’s attendance of 37,161 is second-highest in track history.</p>
<p><strong><u>Wagering</u><br />
All-sources wagering</strong> on last year’s 12-race Toyota Blue Grass card reached $21,114,552, second to the record $21,647,378 from the 2012 Toyota Blue Grass card. Keeneland’s record for single-day on-track handle was $3,599,647 on April 16, 2005, day of the Toyota Blue Grass.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>NORTHERN DANCER WON THE BLUE GRASS 50 YEARS AGO AND BECAME A LEGENDARY SIRE</strong></p>
<p>The Toyota Blue Grass (G1) has been won by some of the most notable Thoroughbreds in history. That definitely was the case 50 years ago when a stocky little bay Canadian-bred colt named <strong>Northern Dancer</strong> won the stakes during a seven-race win streak that continued in May with victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. (Click <a href="http://www.keeneland.com/bluegrass/videos">here</a> for the Toyota Blue Grass website and to watch previous runnings of the race, including the stretch run of Northern Dancer’s victory.)</p>
<p>As brilliant as he was as a racehorse, however, Northern Dancer would be an even better sire. He became the most important stallion of the late 20th century, once commanding a $1 million stud fee, while the demand for his yearlings helped to put Keeneland sales on a global stage.</p>
<p>Northern Dancer, by Nearctic, was a homebred racing for E.P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm. He became the third Blue Grass starter for trainer Horatio Luro, who was second in 1960 with Windfields’ Victoria Park and again in 1962 with the future Derby winner, Decidedly.</p>
<p>In 1964, the Blue Grass was a $25,000-added race worth a total of $29,550. The 10,141 Keeneland fans made the Canadian colt, ridden for the first time by Bill Hartack, the 1-5 favorite against four rivals. <em>The Blood-Horse</em> reported on the race:</p>
<p>“After being lapped on pace-setting Royal Shuck, which ran the first quarter in :25 and the first half in :50 1/5, Northern Dancer moved to the front at the three-eighths pole and held safe the game bid of Allen Adair with a final eighth in :11 2/5. (Northern Dancer) galloped out an additional furlong, getting the full Derby distance in 2:03, and came back blowing only slightly.”</p>
<p>Northern Dancer won the Blue Grass by a “narrow but decisive margin,” according to <em>The Blood-Horse</em>. The colt earned $19,207 for the win, which came nine days before the Kentucky Derby. (The Blue Grass was moved to its present date of three weeks before the Derby in 1989.)</p>
<p>At Keeneland’s July Sale of Selected Yearlings in the 1970s and 1980s, Northern Dancer’s yearlings sold for well over a combined $150 million. His reign included:</p>
<ul><li>Leading sire by average (with three or more horses sold) in 1974, 1975, 1978-1984 and 1986-1988.</li>
<li>Sire of sale-toppers in 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1989.</li>
<li>His sons sired the sale-toppers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1988 and 1991.</li>
<li>His grandson Storm Cat, a dominant sire in his own right, sired sale-toppers in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002.</li>
</ul><p>In 1984, the price for one of Northern Dancer’s offspring reached a world-record $10.2 million, when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Aston Upthorpe Stud spent that amount on the colt later named Snaafi Dancer. The price was so high that Keeneland’s bid board did not have enough figures to accommodate it. At the sale, 12 of Northern Dancer’s yearlings sold for an average of $3,446,666.</p>
<p>The next year, the sale price for a grandson of Northern Dancer reached $13.1 million, still the highest amount paid for a yearling Thoroughbred at auction. B.B.A. (England) purchased the colt by Nijinsky II who was a half-brother to 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and was later named Seattle Dancer.</p>
<p>Northern Dancer died Nov. 16, 1990, at 29. His influence continues through his descendants, many of which will race today at Keeneland. Runners by such stallions as Giant’s Causeway, Kitten’s Joy and War Front all carry his prized blood.</p>
<p>Sources: <em>The Blood-Horse;</em> <em>Champions: The Lives, Times and Past Performances of America’s Greatest Thoroughbreds</em> by <em>Daily Racing Form; Legacies of the Turf: A Century of Great Thoroughbred Breeders (Vol. 2) </em>by Edward L. Bowen.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>“LADIES OF THE TURF” IN HISTORIC REUNION SUNDAY</strong></p>
<p>Approximately 25 retired and active female jockeys, including those who were first allowed to ride in 1969 and some of the most accomplished members of their profession, will be honored at Keeneland on April 13 as part of Horses and Hope Pink Day. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to raise breast cancer awareness and purchase a commemorative poster of the female jockeys by noted cartoonist and caricaturist Peb (Pierre Bellocq) that the women will autograph to raise funds for Horses and Hope and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.</p>
<p>Keeneland co-hosts<strong> </strong>Pink Day<strong> </strong>with<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.horsesandhope.org/">Horses and Hope</a>, First Lady Jane Beshear’s initiative to reach women working in Kentucky’s horse industry with education about breast cancer and mammography screening.</p>
<p>Prior to the races, a special Horses and Hope luncheon for breast cancer survivors and supporters will be held in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion. That afternoon, participants will gather in the North Terrace for live music and unique Pink Day activities. Race 6 will be the special Horses and Hope race, and horses will wear pink saddle towels.</p>
<p>The jockeys, some of whom are breast cancer survivors, will participate in a question-and-answer session with fans in the Walking Ring that begins at 12:05 p.m. ET. A tribute video about the women will be shown as they are recognized in the Winner’s Circle at 1:30 p.m., and an autograph signing, which starts at 1:45 p.m.</p>
<p>Fans can purchase the poster for $10. The signing will be along the sidewalk between the Administrative Office and the Walking Ring starting around 1:45 p.m. Posters will be sold in that area starting at noon.</p>
<p>“Keeneland is honored to host this historic gathering of female jockeys who have transcended horse racing,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing W.B. Rogers Beasley said. “They include pioneers who faced many obstacles in the pursuit of their riding careers and opened doors that created opportunities for other women. All have been successful due to their courage and determination.”</p>
<p>The women are traveling to Keeneland from across North America and include:</p>
<p><strong>Patti Barton</strong>, the first female jockey to win 1,000 races, and her daughter <strong>Donna Barton Brothers</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Kaye Bell</strong>, who during Keeneland’s 1972 Spring Meet became the first to win a race at the track.</p>
<p><strong>Patricia “PJ” Cooksey</strong>, the second woman to ride in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the first to compete in the Preakness (G1). <strong>Andrea Seefeldt Knight</strong>, who also rode in both races, is scheduled to attend.</p>
<p><strong>Diane Crump</strong>, the first to ride against men and the first to compete in the Kentucky Derby.</p>
<p><strong>Abigail Fuller</strong>, who won the 1985 Triple Tiara aboard her father’s homebred Mom’s Command.</p>
<p><strong>Julie Krone</strong>, the most successful female jockey in Thoroughbred racing history with 3,704 victories and mount earnings of $90,126,584. Her firsts include winning a Triple Crown race (the 1993 Belmont [G1]); winning a Grade 1 race at Keeneland (1992 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup); and being inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame (2000).</p>
<p><strong>Kathy Kusner</strong>, who in October 1968 became the first to be licensed to ride.</p>
<p><strong>Rosie Napravnik</strong>, who during Keeneland’s 2013 Fall Meet became the first to be the track’s leading rider. She also has a win in the Breeders’ Cup and is the first to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1).</p>
<p><strong>Tami Purcell-Burkland</strong>, the first to win Quarter Horse racing’s two most famous races, the All American Futurity (G1) and the Champion of Champions (G1).</p>
<p><strong>Barbara Jo Rubin</strong>, the first to win a race at a recognized Thoroughbred track.</p>
<p><strong>Cheryl White</strong>, the first African-American female jockey to compete in Thoroughbred racing.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>CLOSING-DAY DIXIANA ELKHORN ATTRACTS 38 NOMINATIONS; BEWITCH LURES 39</strong></p>
<p>James Karp’s <strong>Newsdad</strong>, two-time winner of the Pan American (G2) and winner of the 2012 Fayette (G2) here, tops a list 38 turf marathoners nominated to the 29<sup>th</sup> running of the $200,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) scheduled for closing day, Friday, April 25.</p>
<p>Chief among the other nominees to the 1½-mile grass test are David Heerensperger’s <strong>Fire</strong> <strong>With</strong> <strong>Fire</strong> and Pandora Stud’s <strong>Lucayan</strong> (<strong>FR</strong>), the 1-2 finishers in last month’s San Luis Rey (G2) at Santa Anita both trained by Neil Drysdale; Stella Perdomo’s <strong>Forte</strong> <strong>Dei</strong> <strong>Marmi</strong> (GB), winner of the 2013 Northern Dancer (G1) at Woodbine; and, Magdalena Racing and Diamond M Stable’s <strong>War</strong> <strong>Dancer</strong>, winner of the 2013 Virginia Derby (G2).</p>
<p>Also represented on the roster of nominations are Calumet Farm’s multiple graded-stakes winning duo of <strong>Optimizer</strong> and <strong>Skyring</strong> both trained by D. Wayne Lukas.</p>
<p>Juddmonte Farms’ <strong>Romantica (GB)</strong>, runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in her U.S. debut, headlines a list of 39 nominations to the 53<sup>rd</sup> running of the $150,000 Bewitch (G3) for fillies and mares going 1½ miles on the turf on Thursday, April 24.</p>
<p>Now trained by Bill Mott, Romantica is a three-time group race winner in Europe that includes a score in the 2013 Darley Prix Jean Romanet (G1). Juddmonte also has nominated <strong>Riposte</strong> (<strong>GB</strong>), a Group 2 winner last year in Europe who finished second in Friday’s fifth race here.</p>
<p>Other names of note among the nominations are defending champion <strong>Strathnaver</strong> (<strong>GB</strong>) and 2014 Grade 3 stakes winners <strong>Anjaz</strong> and <strong>Inimitable</strong> <strong>Romanee</strong>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>SPRING MEET LEADERS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Through April 11 (6 days of racing)</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Jockey</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Julien Leparoux</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>39</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$378,609</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Stewart Elliott</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>26</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$209,562</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joe Rocco Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>26</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$283,898</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Javier Castellano</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>22</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$192,258</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joel Rosario</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>22</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$340,909</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Dylan Davis</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>19</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$115,412</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Rosie Napravnik</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>31</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$164,680</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Alan Garcia</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>16</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$189,864</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Shaun Bridgmohan</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>16</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$266,009</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Robby Albarado</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>24</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$96,443</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Marcelino Pedroza Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$37,592</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong>9 jockeys with one win each.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Trainer</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mark Casse</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>20</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$278,458</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>H. Graham Motion</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>15</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$139,157</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Wesley Ward</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$85,190</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Ken McPeek</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>15</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$244,683</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mike Maker</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>29</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$153,108</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Shug McGaughey</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$109,566</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Bill Mott</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>14</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$99,063</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Chad Brown</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$122,800</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Tom Amoss</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$40,077</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Neil Pessin</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$45,651</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong>31 trainers with one win each.</p>
<p class="rtecenter"> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS</strong><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Saturday, April 12</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Hill. </strong>Keeneland’s official tailgate lot located adjacent to the Keene Barn, will feature food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk, free shuttles to the track and live bluegrass music. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.</p>
<p><strong>Craft Beer Tent</strong>. A special selection of craft beers is available on the North Terrace patio and includes Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.</p>
<p><strong>The Keeneland Gift Shop Presents </strong>a meet and greet with hat milliner Christine A. Moore and the Bosom Buddy Bags trunk show until 6 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 4 presented by TVG. </strong>The $300,000 guaranteed Pick Four features Races 8-11, the Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G1).</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 5 presented by TVG. </strong>The<strong> </strong>$300,000 guaranteed Pick Five features Races 7-11, the Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1), and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Sunday, April 13</strong></p>
<p>Horses and Hope Pink Day. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Keeneland. Horses and Hope is First Lady Jane Beshear’s initiative to reach women working in Kentucky’s horse industry with education about breast cancer and mammography screening. In conjunction with the day’s festivities, Keeneland will honor <strong>“Ladies of the Turf,”</strong> nearly 30 retired and active female jockeys, including those who were first allowed to ride in 1969 and some of the most accomplished members of their profession. The women also will sign a commemorative fundraising poster created by horse racing cartoonist Peb. Fans can purchase the poster for $10. The signing will be along the sidewalk between the Administrative Office and the Walking Ring starting around 1:45 p.m. Posters will be sold in that area starting at noon. Proceeds will benefit Horses and Hope and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shared/26508/TBGS_logo_smaller_web.jpg?itok=rJmHBqiK" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/26508/TBGS_logo_smaller_web.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/shared/26508/TBGS_logo_smaller_web.jpg?itok=eUJkEj95" width="220" height="142" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/barn-notes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Barn Notes</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/2014-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2014 Spring Meet</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/toyota-blue-grass" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Toyota Blue Grass</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/wise-dan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wise Dan</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/elkhorn" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Elkhorn</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/bewitch" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Bewitch</a></div></div></div>Sat, 12 Apr 2014 14:59:42 +0000cewert26508 at http://www.keeneland.comBarn Notes -- Friday, April 11http://www.keeneland.com/racing/barn-notes-friday-april-11
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS INFORMATION</strong></p>
<p><strong>EARLY POST: On Saturday, April 12, Keeneland will offer 12 races. Post time for the first race is 12:35 p.m. ET. The $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) is the 11</strong><strong><sup>th</sup></strong><strong> race with a 5:45 p.m. post. Click </strong><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/racing/entries"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> for the day’s card.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Click </strong><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/bluegrass"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> for information about the Toyota Blue Grass (G1), including details about the contenders and footage of past runnings of the race. Click </strong><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/10532/2014%20TBGS%20Handout-with%20draw%5B2%5D%20copy.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> for the 2014 Toyota Blue Grass Media Guide.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOM LEACH INTERVIEWS CONNECTIONS OF CONTENDERS IN WEEKEND STAKES</strong></p>
<p>Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach interviews several jockeys and trainers on their horses racing in graded stakes this weekend:</p>
<p>Jockey <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N8gLhlRzM4">Javier Castellano</a> on Toyota Blue Grass (G1) 3-1 morning-line favorite <strong>Bobby’s Kitten</strong>.</p>
<p>Jockey <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4d9OsH1vAc">Robby Albarado</a> on Toyota Blue Grass 9-2 second choice <strong>Medal Count</strong>.</p>
<p>Jockey <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAm-6iDlelM">Stewart Elliott</a> on Toyota Blue Grass 8-1 choice <strong>Coastline</strong>.</p>
<p>Trainer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83cylqMKsSg">Neil Pessin</a> on Madison (G1) starter <strong>Eden Prairie</strong>.</p>
<p>Trainer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtvc6bD3Pmg">Mark Casse</a> on Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) starter <strong>Kaigan</strong> and Commonwealth (G3) starter <strong>Laugh Track</strong>.</p>
<p>Trainer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Z8kGI5EEY&amp;feature=youtu.be">Al Stall Jr.</a> on Madison (G1) starter <strong>Apropos </strong>and Shakertown (G3) starter <strong>Channel Marker</strong>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>PRADO OUT FOR 30 DAYS AFTER TRAINING ACCIDENT</strong></p>
<p>Racing Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado was injured in a training accident at Keeneland Thursday morning and will be out of action for at least 30 days.</p>
<p>“He is doing fine this (Friday) morning. He has a hairline fracture of the C-7, which is at the base of his neck,” said Prado’s agent, Bob Klesaris. “The horse he was on hit him in the face with his head and Edgar was knocked out when he fell.”</p>
<p>Prado, a three-time winner of the Toyota Blue Grass (G1), was scheduled to ride <strong>Vinceremos</strong> in Saturday’s 90<sup>th</sup> running of the $750,000 race.</p>
<p>In the same incident, jockey Jose Lezcano bruised his shoulder.</p>
<p>“He is sore and will be off all of his mounts today but plans to ride Saturday and Sunday,” Keeneland Clerk of Scales Javier Torres said of Lezcano.</p>
<p>Lezcano was named to ride Alkazan Alakazan (BRZ) in today’s Maker’s 46 Mile (G1). Corey Lanerie will now ride the horse.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>CLEMENT WANTS FIRM COURSE FOR ZA APPROVAL IN MAKER’S 46 MILE</strong></p>
<p>Scattered rain is forecast today for Central Kentucky, and the amount the Keeneland turf course receives will determine whether Live Oak Plantation’s homebred <strong>Za Approval</strong> runs in the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1). The Maker’s 46 Mile is the ninth race with a 5:13 p.m. ET post time.</p>
<p>“If I don’t think it’s firm then I will not run him,” trainer Christophe Clement said.</p>
<p>The Maker’s 46 Mile will mark the 2014 debut for two-time Horse of the Year <strong>Wise Dan</strong>, who won the race last year. Za Approval faced Wise Dan twice at the end of last year, finishing second to him in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) and second to him in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) when he was passed late in the stretch.</p>
<p>A 6-year-old Ghostzapper gelding, Za Approval enters today’s race after a fourth-place finish in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) on March 8 at Santa Anita. Running second in that race was <strong>Lochte</strong>, who runs in the Maker’s 46 Mile.</p>
<p>“It’s a very good race. It’s very competitive,” Clement said. “Wise Dan has been Horse of the Year for the last two years – there’s a reason for that. It’ll be tough, but we’ll try and see what happens.”</p>
<p>Za Approval is a half-brother to champion <strong>Miesque’s Approval</strong>, winner of the 2006 Maker’s Mark Mile (G2) and second in the race in 2003. By Miesque’s Son, Miesque’s Approval won 12 races, including the 2006 NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile, and earned $2,648,879 from 2001-2007. </p>
<p>On Saturday, Clement will send out Patricia Generazio’s homebred Grade 1 winner <strong>Discreet Marq</strong> in the $300,000 Jenny Wiley (G1). The 1 1/16-mile grass race will mark the 2014 debut for the New York-bred, 4-year-old daughter of Discreet Cat, who last year won the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and was second in the Garden City (G1) and Matriarch (G1).</p>
<p>Discreet Marq will face a field that includes Grade 1 winners <strong>Centre Court</strong> and <strong>Stephanie’s Kitten</strong> in the Jenny Wiley. Clement said her future targets are the Beaugay (G3) on May 3 and the Longines Just a Game (G1) on June 7.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>HAVELOCK APPROACHING EXCLUSIVE PLATEAU AT KEENELAND</strong></p>
<p>When Silverton Hill’s homebred <strong>Havelock</strong> goes postward in Saturday’s $100,000 Shakertown (G3), he will be attempting to join an exclusive club at Keeneland: the four graded-stakes win club.</p>
<p>Presently, the club has two members in <strong>Take</strong> <strong>Charge Lady</strong> and <strong>Wise</strong> <strong>Dan</strong>, whose total stands at five and counting.</p>
<p>“That’s a pretty good group,” trainer Darrin Miller said on the eve of the 7-year-old Havelock’s 2014 debut. Havelock is one of 24 horses to have won three graded stakes here.</p>
<p>Havelock is the defending champion in the Shakertown and also has won the Woodford (G3) in 2011 and 2013. On Saturday, he will attempt to join <strong>Soaring</strong> <strong>Free</strong> (2004-2005) as the only two-time winner of the Shakertown.</p>
<p>His Shakertown-Woodford sweep last year marked only the second time that had been accomplished, joining <strong>Silver</strong> <strong>Timber</strong> in 2010.</p>
<p>Havelock’s success has been a pleasant story for Miller.</p>
<p>“When I first got him, I thought he would be a good, honest horse,” Miller said. “He has been a great ambassador for the barn and a good baby-sitter for the horses coming into the barn.”</p>
<p>Havelock has not run since finishing 10<sup>th</sup>, beaten four lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita in November.</p>
<p>“He seems to be doing good and I was very happy with his last work (1:02 for five furlongs on Monday),” Miller said. “I think he is close to the same as he was starting off last year.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>SPRING MEET LEADERS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Through April 10 (5 days of racing)</strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Jockey</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Julien Leparoux</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>31</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$334,233</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Stewart Elliott</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>20</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>6</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$169,111</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joe Rocco Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>21</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$203,955</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joel Rosario</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>22</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$340,909</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Javier Castellano</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>15</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$128,336</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Dylan Davis</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$81,535</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Alan Garcia</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$120,652</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Shaun Bridgmohan</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$264,033</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Rosie Napravnik</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>23</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$87,913</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Robby Albarado</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>20</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$94,123</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Marcelino Pedroza Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$37,592</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p>6 jockeys with one win each.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Trainer</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mark Casse</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>17</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$180,658</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>H. Graham Motion</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$137,224</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Ken McPeek</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$238,501</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mike Maker</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>22</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$125,125</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Wesley Ward</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$57,290</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Bill Mott</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>13</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$88,163</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Neil Pessin</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$45,651</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Tom Amoss</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$35,400</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p>27 trainers with one win each.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Through Sunday, April 13</strong></p>
<p>The Keeneland Gift Shop Presents a meet and greet with hat milliner Christine A. Moore from<br />
9 a.m.-6 p.m.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Friday, April 11</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Hill.</strong> Keeneland’s official tailgate lot, which is adjacent to the Keene Barn, features food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists, Keeneland’s wagering experts, will be available to answer fans’ questions.</p>
<p><strong>Craft Beer Tent</strong>. A special selection of craft beers is available on the North Terrace patio and includes Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.</p>
<p><strong>Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG.</strong> A $200,000-guaranteed pool will be offered on Races 6-9. Race 9 is the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12</strong></p>
<p>The Keeneland Gift Shop Presents the Bosom Buddy Bags trunk show from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Saturday, April 12</strong></p>
<p><strong>Sunrise Trackside </strong>sponsored by LEX18, the <em>Lexington Herald-Leader</em> and Dunkin’ Donuts offers activities for all ages beginning at 7 a.m. ET. Fans can enjoy <strong>Breakfast With the Works</strong>, a Southern-style breakfast and trackside commentary during the morning workouts (until 8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); a show-and-tell with Michael Blowen of Old Friends; a demonstration by the Irish-bred Gypsy Vanner trick horse Odd Bob Job in the Paddock (9 a.m.); guided walking tours of Keeneland (8-10 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar (11 a.m.); and a Q&amp;A session with 2013 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano in the Paddock (11:35 a.m.). Keeneland Bugler Steve Buttleman also will be on hand to take photos with fans.</p>
<p><strong>Early Post.</strong> Keeneland will offer 12 races, and the post time of the first race is 12:35 p.m. The Toyota Blue Grass (G1) is the 11<sup>th</sup> race with a 5:45 p.m. post.</p>
<p><strong>The Hill. </strong>Keeneland’s official tailgate lot located adjacent to the Keene Barn, will feature food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk, free shuttles to the track and live bluegrass music. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.</p>
<p><strong>Craft Beer Tent</strong>. A special selection of craft beers is available on the North Terrace patio and includes Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 4 presented by TVG. </strong>The $300,000 guaranteed Pick Four features Races 8-11, the Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G1).</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 5 presented by TVG. </strong>The<strong> </strong>$300,000 guaranteed Pick Five features Races 7-11, the Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1), and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Sunday, April 13</strong></p>
<p><strong>Horses and Hope Pink Day. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Keeneland. </strong>Horses and Hope is First Lady Jane Beshear’s initiative to reach women working in Kentucky’s horse industry with education about breast cancer and mammography screening. In conjunction with the day’s festivities, Keeneland will honor <strong>“Ladies of the Turf,”</strong> nearly 30 retired and active female jockeys, including those who were first allowed to ride in 1969 and some of the most accomplished members of their profession. The women also will sign a commemorative fundraising poster created by horse racing cartoonist Peb. Fans can purchase the poster for $10. The signing will be along the sidewalk between the Administrative Office and the Walking Ring starting around 1:45 p.m. Posters will be sold in that area starting at noon. Proceeds will benefit Horses and Hope and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shared/26485/Wise%20Dan_2013-Makers.jpg?itok=3VJIVvpJ" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/26485/Wise%20Dan_2013-Makers.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/shared/26485/Wise%20Dan_2013-Makers.jpg?itok=ZizhTFCv" width="220" height="176" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/barn-notes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Barn Notes</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/2014-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2014 Spring Meet</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/toyota-blue-grass" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Toyota Blue Grass</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/shakertown" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Shakertown</a></div></div></div>Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:02:55 +0000cewert26485 at http://www.keeneland.comBarn Notes -- Thursday, April 10http://www.keeneland.com/racing/barn-notes-thursday-april-10
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>VIDEO: TOM LEACH TALKS TO CHARLIE LOPRESTI ABOUT WISE DAN AND INTERVIEWS CONNECTIONS OF </strong><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS CONTENDERS BIG BAZINGA AND CASIGUAPO</strong></p>
<p>Keeneland racing analyst Tom Leach interviews trainer Charlie LoPresti about two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who is entered in Friday’s Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) for his 2014 debut. Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFrjvGt02jk&amp;feature=youtu.be">here</a> to watch.</p>
<p>Leach also interviews:</p>
<p>Trainer Katerina Vassilieva about Toyota Blue Grass (G1) contender Big Bazinga. Click <a href="http://www.keeneland.com/bluegrass/videos">here</a> to watch.</p>
<p>Dr. Laurie Lawrence of the University of Kentucky, which bred Toyota Blue Grass hopeful Casiguapo. Click <a href="http://www.keeneland.com/bluegrass/videos">here</a> to watch.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS: DANCE WITH FATE COULD CONTINUE EURTON’S HOT STREAK AT KEENELAND</strong></p>
<p>Saturday’s Toyota Blue Grass (G1) offers 170 points on the road to the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), but for trainer Peter Eurton, the points are the furthest thing from his mind with <strong>Dance</strong> <strong>With</strong> <strong>Fate</strong>.</p>
<p>“This is a special place for me,” Eurton said. “There is no better feeling than coming down the steps to go to the winner’s circle in the infield like last fall with <strong>Madame</strong> <strong>Cactus</strong> after the (Lexus) Raven Run (G2). We had a blast here.”</p>
<p>Eurton, who also saddled <strong>She’s</strong> <strong>Cheeky</strong> to a runner-up finish behind champion <strong>Groupie</strong> <strong>Doll</strong> in the 2012 Vinery Madison (G1) here, hopes to make a repeat run Saturday with Dance With Fate, who is owned by Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable and Ciaglia Racing.</p>
<p>“This race has been in the plans since the Breeders’ Cup,” Eurton said. “The Blue Grass is a destination more than anything and not just a prep for the Derby.”</p>
<p>At this stage of the game, Eurton feels Dance With Fate’s preferred surface is Polytrack.</p>
<p>“Maybe when he gets bigger and stronger he will be better on dirt, but I think he is better on Polytrack,” Eurton said. “He’s a wonderful turf horse. He relaxes on grass and he has a great turn of foot.”</p>
<p>In his two starts on dirt, Dance With Fate finished second in the FrontRunner (G1) and eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.</p>
<p>“He made the lead and then hung in the FrontRunner and I don’t think he saw the other horse (<strong>Bond</strong> <strong>Holder</strong>),” Eurton said. “Then he had problems in the Breeders’ Cup (when he got squeezed at the start).”</p>
<p>Dance With Fate, by Two Step Salsa, finished second in the El Camino Real Derby (G3) in his most recent start and is scheduled to return to California on Monday.</p>
<p>However, a first- or second-place finish Saturday would give Dance With Fate, who has accumulated eight points, enough points to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate.</p>
<p>“It would be a lovely problem to have,” said Eurton, who has 38 horses in his stable. “I don’t think it would be good for him (to ship twice in three weeks from California).”</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>MAKER’S 46 MILE: LOCHTE YIELDS HUGE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR NEW CONNECTIONS</strong></p>
<p>Last fall at Saratoga when Darley was selling some racing stock, trainer Marcus Vitali went shopping for Carolyn Vogel’s Crossed Sabres Farm.</p>
<p>“We marked four to look at based on pedigree and we were not going to go home empty-handed,” said Vitali, who had purchased two horses at the same sale the year before. “We bought two, <strong>Lochte</strong> and <strong>Valid </strong>(a<strong> </strong>three-time<strong> </strong>winner<strong> </strong>in<strong> </strong>six<strong> </strong>starts<strong> </strong>for<strong> </strong>Vitali).”</p>
<p>Vitali paid $60,000 for Lochte – “I probably would have gone to $100,000,” he said – who has earned $250,000 in his past two starts with a victory in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) and a runner-up finish in the Frank Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.</p>
<p>So why the big turnaround in five months from maiden to Grade 1 winner for the 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding?</p>
<p>“I don’t know,” said Vitali, who never has started a horse at Keeneland. “When we got him, he had just run at Belmont. It has been a team effort. He is maturing and maybe he is just starting to get good. Maybe he just fits our program, but both of those horses have come to life this year.”</p>
<p>Matthew Rispoli rode Lochte in his first three starts for Vitali and Orlando Bocachica has ridden the past three times and will be aboard Friday when Lochte goes to the post in the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1).</p>
<p>“Orlando inherited the mount when Matthew got hurt (in a spill Jan. 20 at Gulfstream),” Vitali said. “He (Bocachica) is an underrated rider. He rode for me in Boston and we had a lot of success. He came to Florida five years ago and never left.”</p>
<p>Vitali and Bocachica drove to Lexington from South Florida together, arriving here early Wednesday.</p>
<p>“I drove and he slept, so he’d better win now,” Vitali said with a laugh.</p>
<p>Should Lochte perform well Friday against the likes of two-time Horse of the Year <strong>Wise</strong> <strong>Dan</strong>,<strong> </strong>a<strong> </strong>return<strong> </strong>trip to Kentucky may be in the cards for the $500,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs.</p>
<p>“We have been thinking about it if he is OK after this,” Vitali said. “We have two or three spots in mind. But if we do come back, I’m flying.”</p>
<p class="rtecenter"> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>MADISON: WILDCAT LILY ROUNDING BACK INTO TOP FORM</strong></p>
<p>When Ronald Sanchez, the head of the Rontos Racing Stable, came to Santa Anita last fall for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) with <strong>Street</strong> <strong>Girl</strong>, he lamented the fact he could not also bring <strong>Wildcat</strong> <strong>Lily</strong> for the Filly &amp; Mare Sprint (G1).</p>
<p>“She was just not in good shape after she ran at Saratoga,” Sanchez said of the filly’s runner-up efforts in the Prioress (G1) and Test (G1).</p>
<p>Trainer Manny Azpurua gave her some time off after returning to Florida with nearly five months between starts.</p>
<p>“In her first race back, she ran into <strong>Groupie</strong> <strong>Doll</strong> (in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie) and in her next start (in the Grade 2 Inside Information) she had a bad start and was rushed up. She was working amazingly before Saratoga and her last work (:35.40 on April 2) was like that.”</p>
<p>Saturday’s Madison (G1) will mark the Polytrack debut for the 4-year-old D’wildcat filly.</p>
<p>“I have been wanting to try her on the turf and have not had the chance to,” Sanchez said.</p>
<p>Sanchez also owns <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Inclusion</strong>, who finished third as the favorite in last Saturday’s Wood Memorial (G1).</p>
<p>“He is back in Florida and doing well,” Sanchez said. “He should have his first day back at the track Friday.”</p>
<p>Social Inclusion has accumulated 20 points toward the Kentucky Derby, a figure that will be close to the cut line to make the 20-horse field.</p>
<p>“We will know more after this weekend,” Sanchez said referring to the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1), both of which offer 170 points toward the Kentucky Derby. “Right now we are training toward the first Saturday in May, not the third (which would be the Preakness). If we have enough points, we’d go to Louisville on the Monday of Derby Week.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>BEAUMONT (G2) PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SELECT: READY TO ACT TOPS FIELD OF EIGHT FOR SUNDAY RACE</strong></p>
<p>Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s <strong>Ready</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Act</strong>, winner of the Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park in her lone 2014 start, headlines a field of eight 3-year-old fillies entered Thursday for Sunday’s 29<sup>th</sup> running of the $200,000 Beaumont (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.</p>
<p>The Beaumont, to be run over the Beard Course of seven furlongs, 184 feet, will go as the eighth race on Sunday’s nine-race program with a post time of 4:42 p.m. ET. First post time Sunday is 1:05.</p>
<p>The race offers 17 points (10-4-2-1) toward the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.</p>
<p>Trained by Chad Brown, Ready to Act broke her maiden in her debut and in her stakes debut in the Natalma (G2) she veered in during the stretch run while in the lead. Ready to Act finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).</p>
<p>Javier Castellano has the mount Sunday on Ready to Act, who will break from post position three.</p>
<p>Three other nonrestricted stakes winners are in the field: <strong>Richies</strong> <strong>Party</strong> <strong>Girl</strong>, <strong>Sweet</strong> <strong>Whiskey</strong> and <strong>Tea</strong> <strong>Time</strong>.</p>
<p>Richard Ravin and trainer Wesley Ward’s Richies Party Girl will make her 2014 debut after closing 2013 with a victory in the Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders’ Cup program Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. Richies Party Girl will break from post position six and be ridden by Victor Espinoza.</p>
<p>Alto Racing’s Sweet Whiskey, trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Old Hat (G3) in January at Gulfstream. Third in the Any Limit at Gulfstream in her most recent start, Sweet Whiskey will break from post position four and be ridden by John Velazquez.</p>
<p>Helen Groves and Jon and Sarah Kelly’s Tea Time, winner of the Sharp Cat at Belmont in late October in her most recent start, has won two of four starts for trainer Michael Matz. Tea Time will exit post position two and be ridden by Luis Saez.</p>
<p>The field for the Beaumont, from the rail out, is as follows: <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>Again</strong> (Alex Solis), Tea Time (Saez), Ready to Act (Castellano), Sweet Whiskey (Velazquez), <strong>Conspired</strong> (Julien Leparoux), Richies Party Girl (Espinoza), <strong>Katie’s</strong> <strong>Eyes</strong> (Corey Lanerie) and <strong>Co</strong> <strong>Cola</strong> (Joel Rosario). All starters will carry 118 pounds.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>SPRING MEET LEADERS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Through April 9 (4 days of racing)</strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Jockey</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Julien Leparoux</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>26</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$280,299</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Stewart Elliott</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>16</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>5</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$154,419</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joe Rocco Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>18</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$185,765</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Joel Rosario</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>16</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$284,984</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Alan Garcia</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$118,700</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Dylan Davis</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$72,770</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Javier Castellano</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$72,616</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Marcelino Pedroza Jr.</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>10</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$37,592</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p>8 jockeys with one win each.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="t1"><tbody><tr><td>
<p><strong>Trainer</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Starts</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Wins</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>2nd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>3rd</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Purses</strong></p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mark Casse</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>14</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$178,614</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>H. Graham Motion</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>11</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$136,832</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Ken McPeek</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>9</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>3</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>0</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$238,261</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Mike Maker</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>17</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$106,473</p>
</td>
</tr><tr><td>
<p>Wesley Ward</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>8</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>$53,290</p>
</td>
</tr></tbody></table><p>24 trainers with one win each.</p>
<p class="rtecenter">
</p>
<p class="rtecenter"><strong>TOYOTA BLUE GRASS WEEK SPECIAL EVENTS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Thursday, April 10, through Sunday, April 13</strong></p>
<p>The Keeneland Gift Shop Presents a meet and greet with hat milliner Christine A. Moore from<br />
9 a.m.-6 p.m.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Friday, April 11</strong></p>
<p><strong>Maker’s Mark Commemorative Bottle signing</strong>. The bottle, which features University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops, benefits UKs HealthCare’s Gill Heart Institute. The bottle signing is from 6:30-9 a.m. ET. Click <a href="http://www.keeneland.com/calendar/makers-mark-bottle-signing">here</a> for more information.</p>
<p><strong>The Hill.</strong> Keeneland’s official tailgate lot, which is adjacent to the Keene Barn, features food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. BETologists, Keeneland’s wagering experts, will be available to answer fans’ questions.</p>
<p><strong>Craft Beer Tent</strong>. A special selection of craft beers is available on the North Terrace patio and includes Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.</p>
<p><strong>Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG.</strong> A $200,000-guaranteed pool will be offered on Races 6-9. Race 9 is the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12</strong></p>
<p>The Keeneland Gift Shop Presents the Bosom Buddy Bags trunk show from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Saturday, April 12</strong></p>
<p><strong>Sunrise Trackside </strong>sponsored by LEX18, the <em>Lexington Herald-Leader</em> and Dunkin’ Donuts offers activities for all ages beginning at 7 a.m. ET. Fans can enjoy <strong>Breakfast With the Works</strong>, a Southern-style breakfast and trackside commentary during the morning workouts (until 8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); a show-and-tell with Michael Blowen of Old Friends; a demonstration by the Irish-bred Gypsy Vanner trick horse Odd Bob Job in the Paddock (9 a.m.); guided walking tours of Keeneland (8-10 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar (11 a.m.); and a Q&amp;A session with 2013 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano in the Paddock (11:35 a.m.). Keeneland Bugler Steve Buttleman will also be on hand to take photos with fans.</p>
<p><strong>Early Post.</strong> Keeneland will offer 12 races, and the post time of the first race is 12:35 p.m. The Toyota Blue Grass (G1) is the 11<sup>th</sup> race with a 5:45 p.m. post.</p>
<p><strong>The Hill. </strong>Keeneland’s official tailgate lot located adjacent to the Keene Barn, will feature food trucks, a jumbo television screen, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk, free shuttles to the track and live bluegrass music. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.</p>
<p><strong>Craft Beer Tent</strong>. A special selection of craft beers is available on the North Terrace patio and includes Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater.</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 4 presented by TVG. </strong>The $300,000 guaranteed Pick Four features Races 8-11, the Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass (G1).</p>
<p><strong>All-Stakes Pick 5 presented by TVG. </strong>The<strong> </strong>$300,000 guaranteed Pick Five features Races 7-11, the Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1), and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1).</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Sunday, April 13<br />
Horses and Hope Pink Day. </strong>Horses and Hope is First Lady Jane Beshear’s initiative to reach women working in Kentucky’s horse industry with education about breast cancer and mammography screening. In conjunction with the day’s festivities, Keeneland will honor <strong>“Ladies of the Turf,”</strong> nearly 30 retired and active female jockeys, including those who were first allowed to ride in 1969 and some of the most accomplished members of their profession. The women also will sign a commemorative fundraising poster created by horse racing cartoonist Peb. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the track to raise breast cancer awareness and interact with the jockeys during the day’s events. Fans can purchase the photo for $10. Proceeds will benefit Horses and Hope and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/default_images/KeeNews.jpg?itok=cM6_j4Td" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/default_images/KeeNews.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/default_images/KeeNews.jpg?itok=mHntxw2E" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/barn-notes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Barn Notes</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/2014-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2014 Spring Meet</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/toyota-blue-grass" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Toyota Blue Grass</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/madison" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Madison</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/beaumont" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Beaumont</a></div></div></div>Thu, 10 Apr 2014 17:12:21 +0000cewert26473 at http://www.keeneland.comTwo-Time Horse of the Year Wise Dan Heads Field of Seven for Friday’s Maker’s 46 Milehttp://www.keeneland.com/racing/two-time-horse-year-wise-dan-heads-field-seven-fridays-makers-46-mile
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>LEXINGTON,</strong> <strong>KY</strong> <strong>(April</strong> <strong>8,</strong> <strong>2014)</strong> <strong>–</strong> Morton Fink’s Wise Dan, the reigning two-time Horse of the Year, will make his 2014 debut Friday when he faces six foes in the 26<sup>th</sup> running of the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) on the grass at Keeneland.</p>
<p>The Maker’s 46 Mile will go as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a post time of 5:13 p.m. ET. First post time Friday is 1:05 p.m.</p>
<p>Winner of a Keeneland-record five graded stakes, Wise Dan completed his major work for his debut with a three-furlong move this morning in :35, his seventh recorded work since Feb. 24.</p>
<p>“You have to get started somewhere and you can’t worry about getting beat,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said. “In a perfect world, I’d like to have another five-eighths work, but with the weather that we had, that was the hand I was dealt.”</p>
<p>Wise Dan’s most recent Keeneland victory came in last year’s Maker’s 46 Mile, which served as the starting point for his championship campaign.</p>
<p>John Velazquez will have the mount Friday on the 7-year-old Wise Dan, who will break from post position three and carry top weight of 123 pounds.</p>
<p>Among those lining up to face Wise Dan are Grade 1 winner Lochte; 2013 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Za Approval; and Reload, who is undefeated in two grass starts.</p>
<p>Crossed Sabres Farm’s Lochte, never worse than third in seven career starts on grass, burst into prominence with a victory in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) on Feb. 9. In his most recent start, Lochte finished second in the Frank Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on March 8 and tuned up for Friday’s race with a three-furlong breeze in :36 this morning.</p>
<p>Trained by Marcus Vitali, Lochte will break from post position six and be ridden by Orlando Bocachica.</p>
<p>Live Oak Plantation’s Za Approval ran fourth in the Kilroe Mile in his first start since finishing second to Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.</p>
<p>Trained by Christophe Clement, Za Approval will break from post position one and be ridden by Julien Leparoux.</p>
<p>Reload, owned by the Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey, has found a home on the grass in his 5-year-old campaign. Reload won an allowance race at Gulfstream on Jan. 17 in his initial grass start and followed that with a victory in the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3) on Feb. 22.</p>
<p>Javier Castellano has the mount on Reload, who will break from post position five.</p>
<p>The field for the Maker’s 46 Mile, from the inside out, is as follows: Za Approval (Leparoux, 118 pounds), Alakazan Alakazan (BRZ) (Jose Lezcano, 118), Wise Dan (Velazquez, 123), Gentleman’s Kitten (Rosie Napravnik, 118), Reload (Castellano, 118), Lochte (Bocachica, 120) and Kaigun (Alan Garcia, 118).</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shared/26436/Wise%20Dan-Morning%20Work-KEE-040814-001.jpg?itok=EaLd4eS2" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/26436/Wise%20Dan-Morning%20Work-KEE-040814-001.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/shared/26436/Wise%20Dan-Morning%20Work-KEE-040814-001.jpg?itok=TumU547-" width="220" height="176" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/wise-dan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wise Dan</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-mark" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s Mark</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/2014-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2014 Spring Meet</a></div></div></div>Tue, 08 Apr 2014 17:07:06 +0000hsaxon26436 at http://www.keeneland.com2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan Returns in Style to Win Maker’s 46 Milehttp://www.keeneland.com/racing/2012-horse-year-wise-dan-returns-style-win-maker%E2%80%99s-46-mile
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>LEXINGTON, KY (April 12, 2013)</strong> – Morton Fink’s reigning Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, repulsed a challenge from defending champion Data Link to win the 25<sup>th</sup> running of the Maker’s 46 Mile Stakes (G1) by a length before a crowd of 15,406 on a brisk Friday afternoon at Keeneland.</p>
<p>The victory was the fifth graded stakes victory at Keeneland for Wise Dan, the most in track history. Wise Dan also won the Phoenix Stakes (G3) in 2010, the 2011 Fayette Stakes (G2) and the 2012 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) and Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).</p>
<p>Trained by Charlie LoPresti and ridden by Jose Lezcano, Wise Dan covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:36.37. The victory was worth $186,000 and raised Wise Dan’s earnings to $3,727,638 with a record of 21-14-1-0.</p>
<p>Wise Dan, bred by Fink, is a six-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry out of the Wolf Power (SAF) mare Lisa Danielle.</p>
<p>Silentio set the pace in the field of five, posting fractions of :24.61 and :48.84 as Wise Dan tracked in third place behind Skyring while racing three wide and in the clear. As the field raced past the quarter pole in 1:13.11, Wise Dan swept past Silentio with Data Link moving within a length to his outside.</p>
<p>Data Link closed to within a half-length at midstretch but could not get any closer as Wise Dan completed the final quarter of a mile in 23 seconds.</p>
<p>A winner of eight of his past nine races, Wise Dan was making his first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita.</p>
<p>“People asked me earlier, ‘What horse do you fear?’ I said, ‘I fear the layoff the most.’ ” LoPresti said. “I didn’t crank him as tight as he needed to be for this race. Turning for home, I hoped he was going to win, but I knew he might get a little tired. He kicked in on heart alone.”</p>
<p>Wise Dan returned mutuels of $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. Data Link, seeking to join Kip Deville as the only repeat winner of the race, returned $3 and $2.20 under Javier Castellano with Mr. Commons finishing two lengths back in third under Corey Nakatani and returning $2.80 to show.</p>
<p>Skyring was another 1¼ lengths back in fourth with Silentio finishing fifth.</p>
<p>The 89<sup>th</sup> running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) will highlight a 12-race program Saturday that includes two other Grade 1 stakes and two Grade 3 stakes. First post time Saturday is 1:05 p.m. (ET) with the Toyota Blue Grass scheduled as the 10<sup>th</sup> race with a 5:40 p.m. post time.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shared/10855/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg?itok=UGYmFxEN" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/10855/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/shared/10855/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg?itok=Z1qNO0ZC" width="220" height="176" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/2013-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2013 Spring Meet</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div></div></div>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:21:41 +0000hsaxon10855 at http://www.keeneland.comQuotes - $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile Stakes (G1)http://www.keeneland.com/racing/quotes-300000-maker%E2%80%99s-46-mile-stakes-g1
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>Charlie LoPresti (winning trainer of Wise Dan)</strong></p>
<p><strong>On whether he was concerned about how reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan would perform in his first race since November</strong></p>
<p>“I was very concerned. People asked me earlier, ‘What horse do you fear?’ I said, ‘I fear the layoff the most.’ I didn’t crank him as tight as he needed to be for this race. Turning for home, I hoped he was going to win but I knew he might get a little tired. He kicked in on heart alone. He’s a good horse.</p>
<p><strong>On how impressed he was with the performance even though he wasn’t 100 percent</strong></p>
<p>“It just shows that he has a desire to win and he’s a really good horse.”</p>
<p><strong>On whether he thought Wise Dan was a bit rank on the run down the backstretch</strong></p>
<p>“Really I was surprised into the first turn (that) he was pretty relaxed where he was. Then down the backside when he saw daylight he wanted to grab the bit a little bit. But I’ve seen him tougher than that.”</p>
<p><strong>On Wise Dan’s next race</strong></p>
<p>“I’ll talk to (breeder and owner Mort Fink). He’s nominated to that race on Derby Day, mile and an eighth on grass (Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs). I don’t think that we’ll run him there. Maybe the (Grade 1) Stephen Foster (Handicap on June 15 at Churchill Downs) next time – just like we did last year. Maybe we’ll win it this year.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Jose Lezcano (rider of Wise Dan)</strong></p>
<p>“He was very fresh. He wanted to go on, but I wanted to slow him down. I knew that (Data Link) would be coming at the end. I waited as long as I could, but he’s a champion, you know.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Javier Castellano (rider of second-place finisher Data Link) </strong></p>
<p>“That’s his style; he’s a come-from-behind horse. It was a decent pace. My target was the winner. The better horse won the race. I was second best today. I am not disappointed at all in my horse and what he did today.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Shug McGaughey (trainer of Data Link) </strong></p>
<p>“He ran fine. He laid in behind that horse (Wise Dan). He settled in good and made a good run at him. He just couldn’t get by. He was second best.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Corey Nakatani (rider of third-place finisher Mr. Commons)</strong></p>
<p>“I wish there was a little more pace to run at, but the course is in great shape. Unfortunately, the race did not set up for us. There was no pace in the race, and my horse loves a target to run at. I was actually in a real good spot considering the race scenario. He just likes a little more pace to run at. Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way. Hopefully, next time we'll get a little more generous pace.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Ian Banwell (owner of Mr. Commons)</strong></p>
<p>“It was a great effort. I’m not at all disappointed in the way he ran against the best horse in North America. We could have used a little more pace; my horse needs a target to run at. But he’s fit and healthy and we’re happy with him.”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-images field-type-image field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Image:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/shared/10854/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg?itok=UKrsDbQV" rel="lightbox[field_images][&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/10854/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg&quot;&gt;Download Original&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;]" title=""><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/shared/10854/WISE%20DAN%20The%20Makers%2046%20Mile%20Gr%20I%20-%20%2004-12-13%20KEE%20-%20FinWEB.jpg?itok=CTy5uGwC" width="220" height="176" alt="" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-news-keywords field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-keywords/2013-spring-meet" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">2013 Spring Meet</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/news-keywords/makers-46-mile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Maker&#039;s 46 Mile</a></div></div></div>Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:10:22 +0000hsaxon10854 at http://www.keeneland.com